Fender lamp for automobiles, etc.



Sept. 20, 1932. J. P. BELL FENDER LM FOR AUTOMOBILES,

ETC

Filed Dec. 17, 1931 Patented Sept. 20, 1932 "l: ATESy JOHN P. BELL, OFBALTIMORE, MARYLAND FENDER LAMP non AUTOMOBILES, nrc.

Application tiled December 17, 1931.

This invention is a novel improvement in :tender lamps and the principalobject of the invention is to provide a simple, novel and etlicient lampadapted to be mounted on the i edge of the front left tender of anautomobile, the lamp consisting of a vertically disposed tubularreflector carrying at its upper end an electric light bulb mounted so asto direct its rays downwardly into the tube, the tube being split at itsfront so as to present a vertical column ot light defining to the driverot approaching vehicles the extreme side limit of the automobile, andthus prevent or materially reduce the number of head-on and sideswipingcollisions between automobiles when attempting to pass in oppositedirections at night; the tube also having an aperture in is rear portiondirectly behind the bulb so as to be visible from the rear of the ,nlamp and to throw a beam of light rearwardly to serve in place of thewell-known parking light which is ordinarily mounted en the rear lefttender of the automobile.

A. further object of the invention is to provide novel means forconnecting the lamp to the tender.

@ther minor objects of the invention will be hereinafter set t'orth.

l will explain the invention with reference M to the accompanyingdrawing which illustrates one practical embodiment thereof to enableothers to adopt and use the same; and will summarize in the claims thenovel features of construction, and novel combinations ot parts, forwhich protection is desired.

ln said drawing:

Fig. l is a perspective View illustrating a portion of the front lefttender of an automobile showing my novel fender lamp mounted thereon.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the lamp de tached.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the cas ing.

4 is a perspective view of the upper portion of the casing with the capremoved.

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5 5, Fig. 4l.

As shown in the dra-wing my novel fender lamp preferably comprises acombined re- 50 iector and casing l consisting of a length of than theother leg 2a.

Serial N0. 581,750.

tubing, preferably brass or the like, which 4may be nickel plated orotherwise finished.

The lower end of the tubing is contracted as at la, and is fixedlysecured by brazing or welding to a U-shaped clip 2, also of brass orvother non-rustable material, the leg to which the tube l is attachedbeing preferably longer Y The U-shaped clip 2 is adapted to fit underand around the usual vertical Harige F at the outer edge of the :tenderF of the automobile, and the shorter leg of the clip may be securelyriveted, bolted or screwed as at 2b to the lange F', whereby the casingl will be vertically disposed at the extreme side limit oi the Jfender Fof the automobile. lreferably a rubber lining L is provided between thelegs of the clip 2 and the fender iiange F to prevent rattling orchattering ot the parts.

'lhe front portion of the tube l is preterably cut away as at lb formost of its length to form a narrow slit through which the column oflight from the bulb 3 is visible from the front of the automobile, andthe interior ot the tube is preferably highly polished or mirrored inany desired manner to form a reflector :tor the light bulb. IFhe openingor slit l5 in the front of the tube may be closed by a transparent sheet1c (Fig. 5) of cellophane, glass, or the like to keep the reflectingsurfaces of the tube clean, and protect the bulb 3. Within the tube ladjacent the base of the slit la is a. disk 4 securely mounted by meansof legs 4a in the casing, said disk el being also polished and servingas a bottom reflector for the light bulb, and also as a means forclosing the lower end ot the opening 1b in the tube.

Around the upper end of the tube is a band 5, securely brazed or weldedto the tube, to prevent spreading of the upper portion ot the split tubel, and to provide a sufiicient thiclr ness of material for the receptionof the cap retaining screws 670 hereinafter described.

The upper end of the tube is covered by means of a tubular cap G closedat its upper end, said cap making a. sliding fit over the ring 5, andbeing secured in place on the tube l by means of the screws 6b passingthrough the cap into the band 5. YVithin the cap is a split metallicring 6a preferably of brassor other conducting material adapted toslidably receive the metallic socket member 7 for the electric lightbulb 3, which socket member 7 is retained in the split ring 6a by meansof a screw 7 a passing through the cap 6 through the split ring 6a andengaging a de. pression in the side of the metallic socket 7, wherebythe socket will be securely held in place in the cap. The mouth of thesocket is directed downwardly and is provided with the usuall bayonetslots 7c for receivingthe bayonet projections 3a on .the electric lightbulb. f

The electric light bulb 3 is visible below the band 5 of thecasing whenthe parts are assembled as shown. The electrical conductor C for thebulb -3 may consist of a single wire connected through a suitable switch(not shown) to the battery (not shown) of the automobile, said Wire Cpassing through the rubber lining L around and under the fender flange Fand u-pwardly through a bore 103 in the lower end of the tube 1, pastthe disk 4, and through the tube 1 and up through the cap to terminal 7d on the socket member 7. The metal of the lamp structure and theautomobile chassis forms the return circuit from the bulb 3 in the usualmanner.

In the upper end of the tube 1 behind the A bulb 3 and disposed oppositethe slit 1b is an opening 1e through which the bulb 3 throws arearwardlydirected beam of light which may be used as a parking lightwhen the vehicle is parked, thereby dispensing with the usual parkinglight which is ordinarily i mounted onthe rear left fender of theautomobile.

By the above construction a novel fender lamp is provided which willpresent a vertical column of light at the front of the vehicle to denotetothe drivers of oncoming vehicles the extreme side limit of thevehicle, the lamp being mounted on the edge of the left front fender asin F ig. 1. My lamps will prevent or materially reduce the number ofhead-on collisions and those due to sideswiping of machines moving inopposite directions on the road, as my lamp will enable .the driver ofthe approaching vehicle toknow at a glance without having to guess theside limit of the vehicle.

I claim: v v

1. In combination with an automobile having side fenders, a fender lampcomprising a tubular casing vertically mounted on the left front fenderat the outer edge thereof; said casing having an elongated verticalsplitin its front portion; a .cap closing the upper end of the casing; and anelectric light bulb mounted in the underside of and carried by the cap,whereby a vertical colunm of light is visible through the split from thefront end of the automobile defining the extreme side limit of theautomobile.

2. In Va lamp as set forth in claim 1, said cap making a sliding fitover the upper end of the casing; a split ring secured within the cap; asocket retained in the split ring and carrying the bulb; and a conductorextending through the casing and into the cap and connected with oneterminal of the socket.

3. In a lamp as set forth in claim 1, ther 'and adapted to engage theliange at the outer edge of the fender, whereby the lamp is verticallymounted on the fender; said casing having an elongated split in itsfront portion; a cap closing the upper end of the casing; and anelectric light socket and bulb mounted in the underside ofthe capwhereby a vertical column of light is visible through the split from thefront end of the automobile defining the extreme side limit of theautomobile.

JOHN BELL.

